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Biden wishes Trump a 'swift recovery' following Covid-19 diagnosis– live Biden wishes Trump a 'swift recovery' following Covid-19 diagnosis– live
(32 minutes later)
Biden says ‘We will continue to pray for the health of the president’ as Trump and first lady quarantine days after TV debate and campaign rallyBiden says ‘We will continue to pray for the health of the president’ as Trump and first lady quarantine days after TV debate and campaign rally
Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican national committee, has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.
The New York Times reports:
The White House said Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser, and her husband, Jared Kushner, had received another coronavirus test this morning.
Both of the White House advisers tested negative.
The president’s youngest son, Barron Trump, has also tested negative for the virus and is taking precautions to avoid catching it, per CNN.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was grateful the vice president had tested negative for coronavirus.
“Thank God the vice president has tested negatively and the second lady as well,” Pelosi told MSNBC. “That continuity of government is always in place.”
The Democratic speaker said she had also taken a coronavirus test this morning and was waiting on the results.
Pelosi met with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday, but Mnuchin said this morning that he had tested negative.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the news of Trump testing positive for coronavirus in an MSNBC interview this morning.
“We all receive that news with great sadness,” Pelosi told MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle.
The Democratic speaker said she always prays for the safety of the president and his family and those prayers had “intensified” since she heard the news.
Pelosi pivoted to making a pitch for the Democrats’ coronavirus relief package, noting the president and the first lady would receive “the best of care and that’s what we want for everyone in this country.”
Pelosi also suggested this may be “a learning experience” for the president and his supporters about the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.
The speaker said Trump’s behavior in recent weeks, such as holding rallies with hundreds of attendees and avoiding wearing a mask in most settings, were a “brazen invitation” for coronavirus.
Pelosi expressed hope that this moment will be an opportunity to take a “saner approach” to limiting the spread of the virus.
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
World leaders are sending their warm wishes to the president and the first lady, after they announced they had tested positive for coronavirus.
Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte said in a tweet this morning, “My best wishes to @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania for a speedy recovery. Hope both of you will get better soon!”
There’s a little groundswell of Republican figures already criticising Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on social media for being slow off the mark this morning in sending well wishes to the president and the first lady.There’s a little groundswell of Republican figures already criticising Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on social media for being slow off the mark this morning in sending well wishes to the president and the first lady.
Steve Guest, the Republican rapid response director, sent this message about twenty minutes before Joe Biden issued his statement this morning.Steve Guest, the Republican rapid response director, sent this message about twenty minutes before Joe Biden issued his statement this morning.
And on that note, I’m off. I’m handing over to Joan Greve now, so take care, stay safe, and I’ll see you next week…And on that note, I’m off. I’m handing over to Joan Greve now, so take care, stay safe, and I’ll see you next week…
Health and human services secretary Alex Azar is the latest official to come out and say that he has tested negative for Covid-19 after protectively being screened following news of Donald Trump’s positive test.Health and human services secretary Alex Azar is the latest official to come out and say that he has tested negative for Covid-19 after protectively being screened following news of Donald Trump’s positive test.
“Out of an abundance of caution I was tested for Covid-19 this morning and the result was negative. I will be testifying before Congress as scheduled,” Azar wrote on Twitter.“Out of an abundance of caution I was tested for Covid-19 this morning and the result was negative. I will be testifying before Congress as scheduled,” Azar wrote on Twitter.
Trump is showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, but mild ones, according to two people familiar with his condition, reports the New York Times. Maggie Haberman writes:Trump is showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, but mild ones, according to two people familiar with his condition, reports the New York Times. Maggie Haberman writes:
Joe Biden has just sent his and his wife Jill’s best wishes to the president.Joe Biden has just sent his and his wife Jill’s best wishes to the president.
Away from the coronavirus for a second – well, not really, because its the coronavirus that has destabilised the economy – my colleagues Dominic Rushe and Michael Sainato have this look at the latest US jobless figures, which are one of the last chances to assess the economy before the election:Away from the coronavirus for a second – well, not really, because its the coronavirus that has destabilised the economy – my colleagues Dominic Rushe and Michael Sainato have this look at the latest US jobless figures, which are one of the last chances to assess the economy before the election:
Read it in full here: US unemployment rate falls to 7.9% in last look at jobs market before electionsRead it in full here: US unemployment rate falls to 7.9% in last look at jobs market before elections
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has added his voice and prayers to those wishing Donald and Melania Trump well.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has added his voice and prayers to those wishing Donald and Melania Trump well.
Reuters have a quick snap that US secretary of the treasury Steven Mnuchin has tested negative for coronavirus this morning.Reuters have a quick snap that US secretary of the treasury Steven Mnuchin has tested negative for coronavirus this morning.
He joins vice president Mike Pence and Pence’s wife Karen in announcing a negative Covid test result in the wake of the news that the president and his wife have both tested positive.He joins vice president Mike Pence and Pence’s wife Karen in announcing a negative Covid test result in the wake of the news that the president and his wife have both tested positive.
A refreshingly honest headline from Matt Berman over at Buzzfeed this morning: I am the politics editor and I have absolutely no idea what happens next. Berman has at least helpfully identified three of the key questions however:A refreshingly honest headline from Matt Berman over at Buzzfeed this morning: I am the politics editor and I have absolutely no idea what happens next. Berman has at least helpfully identified three of the key questions however:
As he helpfully puts it: “The mind boggles”As he helpfully puts it: “The mind boggles”
Read it here: Buzzfeed News – I am the politics editor and I have absolutely no idea what happens nextRead it here: Buzzfeed News – I am the politics editor and I have absolutely no idea what happens next
A survey this week showed that fewer than one-third of Americans place a great deal or a fair amount of trust in federal government, the White House, or Donald Trump to give them accurate information about the coronavirus. They might have a point.A survey this week showed that fewer than one-third of Americans place a great deal or a fair amount of trust in federal government, the White House, or Donald Trump to give them accurate information about the coronavirus. They might have a point.
Cornell University researchers have analyzed 38m English-language articles about the pandemic, and found that Donald Trump was the largest driver of Covid misinformation in the media in the first half of the year.Cornell University researchers have analyzed 38m English-language articles about the pandemic, and found that Donald Trump was the largest driver of Covid misinformation in the media in the first half of the year.
The study found that of articles published from 1 January to 26 May, more than 1.1m — slightly less than about 3% — contained some form of misinformation. They categorised this and found some common repeated conspiracy theory tropes, such as the source of the coronavirus being people who ate bat soup, or that the pandemic had been engineered to coincide with Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.The study found that of articles published from 1 January to 26 May, more than 1.1m — slightly less than about 3% — contained some form of misinformation. They categorised this and found some common repeated conspiracy theory tropes, such as the source of the coronavirus being people who ate bat soup, or that the pandemic had been engineered to coincide with Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
What they found above all, though, was that when it came to the promise of “miracle cures”, it was Trump’s words that echoed loudest.What they found above all, though, was that when it came to the promise of “miracle cures”, it was Trump’s words that echoed loudest.
His promotion of hydroxychloroquine, and suggestions that UV light or bleach could help with dealing with Covid, generated masses of articles, providing a vector for the misinformation to spread. Worryingly, the researchers found that “the majority of Covid misinformation is conveyed by the media without question or correction”.His promotion of hydroxychloroquine, and suggestions that UV light or bleach could help with dealing with Covid, generated masses of articles, providing a vector for the misinformation to spread. Worryingly, the researchers found that “the majority of Covid misinformation is conveyed by the media without question or correction”.
As I mentioned earlier, there’s going to be a lot of looking back at the things Donald Trump has done and said this week when he could have been affected by the coronavirus.
The CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale has gathered together a few things that the president has said over the last few days in attacking his election opponent Joe Biden for practising Covid-safety measures at his campaign events.
And then there’s this. Two days before announcing he had contracted Covid-19, Donald Trump was tossing campaign baseball caps into his campaign rally crowd with his bare hands while in Duluth, Minnesota.
The venue was crowded with hundreds of supporters on Wednesday and Trump, who did not wear a face mask, entered the stage smiling and waving to the crowd before addressing the rally. The president frequently minimised the seriousness of the pandemic in its early stages and has repeatedly predicted it would go away.
The vice-president’s press secretary, Devin O’Malley, has just announced that Mike Pence tested negative for the coronavirus this morning.
If you are just joining us, here’s a summary from my colleague Helen Sullivan of what we know so far:
Donald Trump and Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus. The news came after one of the president’s most senior advisers, Hope Hicks, tested positive on Thursday. Trump broke the news of the couple’s infection on Twitter.
Hicks had flown with the president on Air Force One earlier on Wednesday and accompanied him to the first presidential debate against the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, on Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio.
Trump confirmed on Fox News on Thursday evening that he and the first lady were awaiting the results of coronavirus tests following Hicks’s positive test.
Trump’s doctor confirmed that the president and first lady would “remain at home within the White House during their convalescence”. How long this convalescence lasts will depend on how ill the pair get. Even if Trump tests negative within the next 14 days, he will almost certainly be unable to attend rallies in three key states – Wisconsin, Florida and Arizona – as well as the next presidential debate, which is scheduled for 15 October.
If Trump becomes too ill to lead the country, the vice-president, Mike Pence, will be placed in charge. If Pence is also incapacitated, the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, would be the most likely person to take over.
Pence attended a White House coronavirus taskforce briefing with Trump on Monday. Pence did not attend the presidential debate.
There are fears Trump may have exposed Biden to the virus during Tuesday night’s debate. Biden is expected to get tested for coronavirus this morning.
CNN are reporting that “a source familiar with his plans” has told them that the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, is planning to get a coronavirus test this morning in light of the news of Donald Trump’s positive diagnosis.
A scramble is under way in Washington to determine how far coronavirus infection has spread in the top ranks of the US leadership after Donald Trump tested positive, in a week that included a presidential debate, political rallies and White House meetings with Congress.
The White House said its medical unit had begun contact-tracing on Thursday. Among those who may have been exposed is the Democratic challenger for the presidency, Joe Biden, who stood a few feet away from Trump for the 90 minutes of Tuesday night’s televised debate. Epidemiologists said that if Trump tested positive on Thursday morning he could have been infectious at that time.
The two candidates did not shake hands under Covid rules, and their lecterns were about 3 metres (10ft) apart, but for the majority of the debate the president was speaking, sometimes at high volume, in Biden’s direction in an indoor venue in Cleveland.
Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at George Mason University, said it was “entirely possible” Biden had been exposed, as Trump would have been infectious for 48 hours before testing positive.
Also on the list for possible exposure is the vice-president, Mike Pence, the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, Trump’s pick for the supreme court, Amy Coney Barrett, and the Senate Republicans they visited this week to prepare for Barrett’s confirmation hearings.
The list also include Trump’s children and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, along with other senior White House staffers who accompanied Trump from Washington to the Cleveland debate and back. Few if any of them are reported to have worn masks on Air Force One.
Read more here: Fears Joe Biden may have been exposed after Trump tests positive for Covid
Jake Sherman from Politico has these thoughts on some of the ramifications of Donald Trump contracting coronavirus.
He notes that there is a deficit of public trust in the White House.
This week the regular Axios/Ipsos poll reported that:
Sherman also points out that we are in uncharted territory as to what now happens with the election campaign.
Aside from the Trump-Biden debates, there may now be a question over next week’s scheduled Pence-Harris debate. If the vice-president has been exposed to the virus via Donald Trump, will that be able to go ahead?
Finally, Sherman suggests that it is an incredible blow to Trump’s campaign messaging.
There’s going to be huge scrutiny of the actions of Trump and his associates over the last few days when they may have been carrying the coronavirus.
One video clip that is already repeatedly doing the rounds on social media is from Tuesday night’s debate. It shows the friends and family of both presidential candidates in the audience, and a lot of people are noting that while Joe Biden’s wife, Jill, was complying with the request for audience members to wear face masks, the Trump entourage were not.
Various world leaders have offered their best wishes to the Trumps.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “Like millions of Israelis, [my wife] Sara and I are thinking of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and wish our friends a full and speedy recovery.”
The Polish president, Andrzej Duda, said: “Our good wishes for speedy recovery to our Friends … Poland and USA will get through the hardships and succeed in fighting Covid-19.” The European nation has just recorded its highest ever single day of new coronavirus cases.
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said in a tweet: “I wish a speedy recovery to US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump, who tested positive for Covid-19. I sincerely hope that they will overcome the quarantine period without problems and regain their health as soon as possible.”
In a telegram, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, told his US counterpart: “I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus.”
Trump may not enjoy the sentiments of the French government spokesperson, Gabriel Attal, quite so much: “This demonstrates that the virus spares no one, including those who have shown scepticism. I wish him a swift recovery.”
Pete Buttigieg, who earlier in the year would have hoped by now to be just a few weeks away from facing Donald Trump in an election, has added his best wishes to the growing number of prominent US politicians to tweet about the president’s Covid diagnosis.
It makes a bit of a contrast sitting next to his tweet about the president a few hours earlier.
Quite the opening paragraph from Matt Flegenheimer, of the New York Times, here:
He reminds us that when the president re-started his campaign rallies, those who signed up to go to them had to agree to a waiver that they “voluntarily assume all risks” of attending. Flegenheimer won’t be the only one to point out the bravado with which Trump was talking about the virus just this week on the nation’s television screens.
Read it here: New York Times – A president’s positive test and the year that won’t let up